The National Vocational and Rehabilitation Center (NVRC) gave joys to its Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) trainees during the conduct of its first ever “Valentine’s Ball” which carried the theme, “A dance in the hearts of PWDs” on February 15, 2016.

PWD trainees wore attractive gown and stunned everyone around. Also a group gracefully performed cotillion dance in the rhythm of the song entitled, “Love Me Like You Do.” Indeed, it was a great night for them.

The participants expressed how happy they were to be part of this event. Joan Monterozo, a deaf trainee through her gesture expressed this, “Thank you for this. I have never gone to school and never experienced like this, especially performing the cotillion dance. Also, this is my first time to win as Best in Casual Attire. I am very happy.”

Fernito Dacutanan, visually impaired, was also grateful for the experience “Happy to experience na makapagsuot ng long sleeve with a tie at makasama sa cotillion. Akala ko hindi ko magagawa ang pagsayaw kasama ang mga sighted pero kaya ko rin pala. Proud ako sa sarili ko. May kakayahan din pala akong pwede kong maipagmalaki. Narealize ko na tao pala ako.” (I am happy to experience wearing a long sleeve with a tie and to be part of the cotillion dance. I thought I cannot dance together with my sighted co- trainees but I did. I am proud to myself. Now, I realized that I have something to be proud of and that I am a “human being”)

Highlights of the event also include the awarding of winners who stand out namely; Christian Casipit, a person with Autism, Best in Men’s Wear; Joan Monterozo, deaf, Best in Casual Attire; Neslie Abania, deaf, Best in Gown and Reynaldo Masagnay who is in his striking dress won the Most Fabulous Trainee. Isai Somera and Ralph Matthew Dungca, both deaf persons bagged the “Mr. and Ms. Valentines Ball 2016.” ### Contributor: Michelle Adattu (FO-NCR, Social Marketing Office)